Fuel pump



Jan. 9, 1951 W. D. SMITH FUEL PUMP Filed April 2o, 194e 2 Sheets-Sheet l K INI/ENTOR.

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W. D. sMl'TH FUEL PUMP Jan. 9,1951

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 194e IN VEN TOR. h/zr/ .Z S/ffzz.

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Patented Jan. 9, 1951 :UNITED STATES 411PA'r15-ii'i oFF-ICE "Ward D. Smith, Dearborn, Mich., assigner to il.. Jacobs Co., Detroit, Mich., Ya corporation of Michigan Allllatinplilo, 1946, Serial No. 663,660

i8 'Glaims A-1 The present invention relates generally .to 'internal combustion engines .and ithas particular .relation .to a fuel pump.

Fuel pumps employing Apulsating diaphragms are lgenerally used in motor vehicles lfor lthe purpose of supplying fuel to the carburetor. These pumps are operated, as a rule, ,byQammeans on .the .engine cam .shah and the present invention is concerned ywith a .fuel pump .of this general character.

.One object .of the present invention is to Drovde an improved fuel pump of the above generally indicated type .employing a pulsating `diaphragm. which is ,simple in construction, econom- `ical of Vmanufacture and assembly, and which is reliable and efcientin operation.. y

Another o'bject of the 'invention is to provide .-a fuel pump of the'above `generally indicated type having an improved resilient valve element for controlling the flow of fuel to 'the pump.

.Another object o'f vthe present Ainvention is to provide an `improved 'fuel pump of the above indi- .cated typehaying 'improved vresilient valve means readily accessible `for repair or replacement.

Other Vobjects oi 'the invention will "become apparent from ,the following specification, from the .drawings :relating "thereto, "and from "the claims j'hereinaiftersetforth. f

For a better'understanding'fof the I'invention" -ref- K erence may b'ehad to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 vis :a plan view 'of a fuel pump constructed according `to Aone jrorm of the invention, ,showing the coverand associatedscrew removed.;

Figure "2 is -a .cross lsectional View .taken substantially valong the line 2-"2 -of LFigure 1 lshowing `the cover k,and associated screw in place;

Figure '3 is :an enlarged fragmentary cross seetional view taken substantially ,along the `line 3--3 of'Figure '4.5

.Figure '1 1 is a reduced l` partial cross lsectional view .taken substantially alone .the *line 4-4 of ',Figure.:

Eignre i5 Yis a partial l,cross sectional view .0.1i a fuel pump construotedin accordance with .einodihed Aform off the .inven on; v.and

lFieure 6 .iis a reduced :partial .cross sectional ylew taken .substantially along the line jG-' of Igu-re 5.

'Referring to'jFiga 1 and 2 of .the drawings, the

pump comprises .a casing fhaving a flower Lpart I0 and an 4upper part llf.2,.and theseparts .of the .Case ing have'anges `I4 and L6 respectively, fastened together byscrews 18. The casing thus prm/ded is .divided by .a .diaphragm J20 having a marginal portion k22 clamped 'between :the anges 't4 and i .connected .at their .centers 'bye nin'28.

.During .operation .of .the nuinp the diaphragm moves upwardly and downwardly .or in other Words, pulsates, .and this .movement .of rthe da? phragm .may be effected 'by any l suitable means". for instance, an larm 30 pivoted intermediate its .ends .on Va pin 3.2 .in thelower part Hi of the casing' and have an operative connection at its Iinner -end with the ypin 28. 'This connection .at the inner end of the `arm 30 ijs suchfas to allow the .stroke .of the diaphragm 20 and pin 28 to .vary in accordance with the fuel `pressure above 4the diaphragm, or in other words, Yif the pressureiabove the diaphragm increases, the stroke-willbeshortened Whereas if the pressure above the diaphragm decreases, the stro-ke will be lengthened. Movement of the arm 30 may 'be elected by a stem134 operating from the engine cam shaft and ywhich ,seats 'in a socket 36 formed on the outer yend'foff the larm 30.

The Y.upper part t2 of the casingfincludes an inner 'cylindrical wall 38 and an 4outer vcylindrical wail 40. The "inner cylindrical wall 3'8 `Vdefines internally thereof ian inner vvapor and fuel lchairpber 42 and co-opcratesewith'the outer cylindrical wall to fdeiine an puter vapor ,and iuel cham* ber 44. A partial cylindrical wall 46 Adisposed Within the outer vapor -and'fuel chamber l4l! supports a cylindrical flter 48 :upon its u -pper end. The lter 48 is positioned by 3 angularly spaced ribs 49. Fuel enters the outer chamber M "by :means -of a 4fuel inlet 50 and passes through the lter 48 disposed in said chamber.. iIt then iiows from the outer chamber 4'4to the inner chamber 4'2 by means presently to be described, and'from theinner chamber jit'iiowsthrourgh a connection 52 `'leading tothe engine carburetor. *Referring 11o Figs. '1 `and 3, 'wall '54 integrally formed ;on the upper jpart L2 lof `the casing exftends ,thereacross land is disposed in spaced rejlaf tion to .the base or lower end thereof and cooperates with the :lower part of `the wall 40 and the diaphragm to define a chamber i516. The wall 5,4 Vhas an opening v58 connecting the -irnier vapor and fuel chamber `442 with the `chamber 5.6 and is also provided with a plurality .of openings 6U outwardly thereof communicating with the outer vapor andfuel chamber 44 and with the` chamber 56.

A resilient valve disk 62 is disposed within the chamber 56 and positioned against the wall 54 on posts 64 integrally formed on said wall 54. The valve disk 62 is constructed of suitable material such as of synthetic rubber having high resistance to the action of hydrocarbon fuels. A plate 66 is received over the lower ends of posts 64 and is held in a position to urge the valve 62 against the wall 54 to form an annular seal between said wall 54 and said plate 66 outwardly of the opening 58 and inwardly of the openings 60. The plate 66 is held in this position by deforming the lower ends of the posts 64 as shown at 68 to give a riveting effect. The plate 6 8 isA provided with an opening 10 disposed centrally thereof for communication with the chamber 42through the opening 58.

The valve disk 62 is provided with an annular sealing bead 12 engaging the plate 66 outwardly ofthe opening 10 and has an annular channel 14 formed therein outwardly of the bead 12. The valve disk 82 has a plurality of apertures 16 lformed therein which communicate with the channel 14 and the opening 58 in the wall 54. The valve disk 62 is also provided lwith an outer annular channel 18 formed in the side thereof adjacent the wall 54 and disposed outwardly of fthe posts 04 and communicating with the opening |50 formed in the wall 54. Adjacent the channel 18 and outwardly thereof the valve disk 82 is provided with an annular bead 180 for engaging the wall 54 to close the openings 60.

- Referring to Fig. 1, the upper end ofthe casing closed by a cover 82 having an annular sealing gasket 84 which engages the upper end of the cylindrical wall 40. This cover is held in place on the casing by a centrally disposed screw 86 extending through the cover 82 and having a threaded engagement with an integral portion jformed on the upper end of the inner cylindrical wall 38 which serves to close the upper end of the inner vapor and fuel chamber 42.

` During the operation of the pump, the down- 4ward movement of the diaphram 20 causes the portion' ofv the valve disk disposed outwardly of the posts 64 to be flexed downwardly unseating the-annular sealing bead 80 from the wall 54 and causing fuel to iiow inwardly through the inlet opening 50 into the outer fuel and vapor chamber 44, -through the filter 48, and then through the openings 60 and past the unseated bead 80 into :the chamber 56. During this downward movementthe annular sealing bead 12 is held in engagement with the plate 86 to close the opening :10 centrally thereof. Upon upward movement of :the diaphram 20 the sealing bead 80 seats against .the wall 54 to close the opening .60 and the portion ,of the valve'discI inwardly of the posts 64 is 'fclexed upwardly unseating the annular sealing .bead 12 from its engagement with'the plate 66 and permitting flow of fuel from the chamber 66 throughthe opening 10, past the unseated bead 12, through the openings', the opening 58, and into the linnerv chamber 42from which it flows out through' the,Y outlet connection 52 to the carburetor. It should be understood that the resiliency of the valveldisc tends to cause the sealing beads toreturn to sealing contact with the metal surfaces they areadapted to engage.

` The modification illustrated in Figures and 6 differs from the above described embodiment in vthat the valve disc $0, corresponding to the valve 62, is mounted on pins 92 carried by a plate 94 corresponding to the plate 66, rather than on posts 64 as in the above described embodiment.

The plate 94 is mounted in the casing by the erigagement of a plurality of radially extending projections 98 formed on the plate 94 yin corresponding slots 08 formed in the casing. The plate 94 is held in proper position against the upper end of the slots 98 by a snap ring |00 which is snapped over the arcuately extending shoulders |02 which serve to hold the snap ring |00 in place. Plate 94 is provided with a centrally disposed aperture |04 corresponding to the opening 10 and is also provided lwith a plurality of apertures |06 disposed outwardly of the pin 92 which serve to allow the flow of fuel drawn through the 4openings |08, corresponding to the opening 80, to pass to the lower side of the plate 94. In the above described embodiment there are no openings corresponding to openings |06 for the reason that fuel flowing through the openings 60 may flow around the outer periphery of the plate 66 and thus to the lower side thereof.

Although only two specific forms of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a fuel pump, a resilient valve disk having an inner annular channel portion formed on one side thereof, a plurality of openings through said disk communicating with said channel portion, an annular bead disposed adjacent said channel portion and inwardly thereof, an outer annular channel portion formed in the other side of said valve disk, and an annular bead disposed adjacent said outer channel portion and outwardly thereof.

2. In a fuel pump, a casing including an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a wall on said casing having a rst opening communicating with one of said chambers and an additional opening between said first opening and the periphery of said casing and communicating with the other of said chambers, a plate mounted on said wall in spaced relation thereto and having an aperture adapted to communicate with said first opening, and a resilient valve disk between said wall and V,saidplate having an opening adapted to connect said aperture *and Vsaid first opening, said disk having an annular portion surrounding said first opening and extending between said first opening and .said additional opening and providing a seal between said wall and said plate, said resilient valve disk inwardly and outwardly of said annular portion being free to fiex so as to alternately open and close said aperture and said additional opening in such a manner that unidirectional iiow is provided from said inlet chamber past said valve diskand into said ,outlet chamber.

3. In a fuel pump-.a casing including an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a wall on said Casing having a first opening communicating 'with one of said chambers and" an additional openingbetween said first opening and the periphery of said casing communicating with the other of said chambers, a plate mounted onsaid wall and disposed substantiallyl parallel and in spaced relation thereto, said plate being formed to expose said additional opening and to cover said first opening and having an aperture adapted to communicate with said first opening, anda resilient valve disk between said wall and said plate having an opening adapted to connect said laperture with said first opening, said disk having an annular'portion surrciiding'said first 'opening and extending between -said first opening and said additional opening and providing a seal between sa'idwall and said plate, said'resilient valve disk inwardly and outwardly ofsaid annular portion being free to flex .so as to alternately open and close said aperture and said additional opening in .such a manner that unidirectionall liow is provided from said 'inlet chamber past said valve disk and into said outlet chamber.

4. In a fuel pump, a casing having an inletY chamber and an outlet chamber, a wall on said casing having a first opening communicating with said outlet chamber and an additional opening between said first opening and the periphery of said casing and communicating with said inlet chamber, a plate mounted on said wall and disposed substantially parallel and in spaced relation thereto, said plate being formed to expose said additional opening and to cover said first opening and having an aperture therein adapted to communicate with said first opening, andy a resilient valve disk disposed between said wall and said plate having an opening adapted to connect said aperture with said first opening, said disk having an annular portion surrounding said first opening and extending between said first opening and said additional opening and providing a seal between said wall and said plate,

said resilient valve disk outwardly of said annular portion being free to flex to alternately open and close said additional opening to provide for unidirectional flow from said inlet chamber past said valve disk, said resilient valve disk inwardly of said annular portion being free to flex so as to alternately open and close said aperture to prog vide for unidirectional flow through said aperture past said valve and into said outlet chamber.

5. In a fuel pump, a casing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a wall on said casing having a first opening communicating with said outlet chamber and an additional opening between said first opening and the periphery of said casing and communicating with said inlet chamber, a plate mounted on said wall in spaced relation thereto, said plate being formed to expose said additional opening and to cover said first opening and having an aperture therein adapted to communicate with said first opening, and a resilient valve disk disposed between said wall and said pate having an opening adapted to communicate with said aperture, said d'sk having an annular portion surrounding said first opening and extending between said first opening and said additional opening and providing a seal between said wall and said plate, said valve disk inwardly of said annular portion having an annular sealing bead adapted to engage said plate outwardly of said aperture and being free to flex so as to alternately establish and break communication between said aperture and said first opening and arranged to provide unidirectional flow through said aperture and into said outlet chamber, said valve disk outwardly of said annular portion having an annular sealing b ead adapted to engage said wall outwardly of said additional opening and being free to iiex to alternately open and `close said additional opening to provide unidirectional flow from said inlet chamber through said additional opening and past said valve disk. f

6. In a fuel pump, a casing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a wall integral with said casing and having a first opening communicating with one of said chambers and an additional opening between said first opening and assaggi iii) the periphery of .said casing and :communicating with the other of said chambers, said casing zheing formed to provide circumferentially-spaced slots disposed at right kangles to said wall, a plate having vradially extending projections received in said slots, :means mounting said plate disposed substantially parallel and `in-spao'ed *reiation to said wall, said'plate .having an aperture adapted to communicate with said first opening, and a resilient valve disk between said wall and said plate having an annular portion surrounding said first opening and extending between Vsaid first opening and said additional opening and providing a seal between said wall and said plate, said valve disk having an opening adapted to connect said ,aperture and said first opening, yand said resilient valve disk inwardly and outwardly of said annular portion being free to flex to alternately open and close said aperture and said additional opening in such manner that unidirectional flow is provided from said inlet chamber past said valve disk and into said outlet chamber.

7. In a fuel pump, a casing having an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a wall on said casing having central opening communicating with one of said chambers and other openings between the central opening and the periphery of said casing and communicating with the yother of said chambers, a plate mounted on said wall in spaced relation thereto and having an aperture adapted to communicate with said central opening, and a resilient valve disk between said wall and said plate having an opening adapted to connect said aperture with said central opening, said disk having an annular portion surrounding said central opening and extending between said central opening and said other openings and providing a seal between said wall andsaid plate, said resilient valve disk inwardly and outwardly ofsaid annular portion being free to flex so as to alternately open and ciose said aperture and said other openings, said valve disk being so constructed and arranged and associated with said openings in said wall that unidirectional flow is provided from said inlet chamber past said valve and into said outlet chamber.

8. In a fuel pump, a casing including an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber, a wall on said casing having a first opening communicating with said outlet chamber and an additional opening between said first opening and the periphery of said casing and communicating with said inlet chamber, a piate having an aperture adapted to communicate with said first opening, means mounting said p'ate in parallel and spaced relaing and said additional opening and providing a seal between said wall and said plate, said valve disk having an annular bead at one side thereof resiliently engaging said wall to normal`.y prevent fiuid flow through said additional opening, said valve disk also having an opening therethrough adapted to communicate with said first opening and said aperture and having a second annular bead at the other side thereof resiliently engaging said plate to normally prevent iiuid fiow through said aperture, said resilient valve disk being adapted to flex adjacent said first named annular bead in response to the pressure of fiuid within said inlet chamber acting on one side of said disk, to provide unidirectional flow from said inlet chamber through said additional opening and also being adapted to ex adjacent said second named bead in response to the pressure of fluid REFERENCES CITED acting on the other side or said disk to provide The following references are 0f record in the unidirectional flow through said aperture past le 0f thlS Patent! said second named bead and into said outlet 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS chamber, and means for varying the uid pres- Number Name Date sure on said other slde of said resilient valve disk. 947.536 Wenkel Jan. 25, 1910 WARD D. SMITH. 

